Knockdown crate for shipping, storing, and other handling of merchandise



Ap l 1950 F. EMIGHOLZ ET AL 2,503,811

. KNOCKDOWN CRATE FOR SHIPPING, STORING,

AND OTHER HANDLING OF MERCHANDISE Filed Nov. 12, 1948 2 Sheets-$heet 1 ATTORMEY.

April 11, 1950 L. F. EMIGHOLZ ET AL 2,503,311

KNOCKDOWN CRATE FOR SHIPPING, STORING,

AND OTHER HANDLINGVOF MERCHANDISE Filed Nov. 12, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F M 10 H ]3 INVENTOR.

A TORNEY.

Patented Apr. 11, 1950 KNOCKDOWN CRATE FOR SHIPPING, STOR- ING, AND OTHER HANDLING OF MER- CHANDISE Lawrence F. Emigholz and Charles C. Averill,

Albion, Mich., assignors to Union Steel Products Company, Albion, Mich.

Application November 12,1948, Serial No. 59,582

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in knockdown crates for shipping, storing and other handling of merchandise.

The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a knockdown crate structure formed of light rod or wire the parts of which may be compactly arranged when in the knockdown and quickly erected and one which when erected is very secure and rigid and affords protection for the products enclosed.

Second, to provide a structure having these advantages including a top which may be locked or provided with a seal to prevent unauthorized removal of the goods without disclosing that the structure has been tampered with.

Third, to provide a crate or container of this character which may be economically produced and while strong and rigid is relatively light in weight as compared to its strength and rigidity.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the crate or container of our invention in fully erected and closed form, parts being shown conventionally for convenience in illustration.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating structural details and the manner of engaging or disengaging the side walls.

Fig. 3 is a view largely in diagrammatic for-m further illustrating the manipulation of the side walls in the engagement and disengagement thereof.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating details of the bottom and its supported relation to one of the side walls.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the parts in disassembled stacked position only a portion of the parts being illustrated,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 1-4 of Fig. 4.

The embodiment of our invention. illustrated is primarily designed as a shipping crate or container which may be knocked down and compactly arranged for return shipment to the shipper or for storage. The crate or container, however, has many other uses in the handling of products or merchandise, such as storage and handling generally.

The structure illustrated comprises a bottom, designated generally by the numeral l, opposed pairs of side walls, designated generally by the numerals 2-2 and 3--3, and a top made up of complementary sections or members 4-4. These several members are so constructed as to be readily assembled or erected or knocked down without the use of tools and when erected provide a very strong rigid structure.

The bottom l comprises a border frame 5 formed of rod of suitable gauge and crossed slats 6 and l which are fixedly secured together at their crossing points and fixedly secured to the border frame. These slats are of suitable gauge of wire or light rod stock. The connections are not illustrated by may desirably be electric welds. The bottom is further provided with longitudinal supporting rods 8 connected at their ends to the frame and supportingly engaging the slats disposed transversely thereof.

The side walls 2 and 3 are made up of horizontal wire slats 9 and the vertical slats Ill. The horizontal slats and the vertical slats are formed of strands of wire bent zigzag, the horizontal slats being slightly inclined for purposes which will appear as the description proceeds.

The strands forming the horizontal slats 9 of the wall members 2 have their bights H extended beyond the outer vertical slats l2 at the ends of the wall members 2 providing loop-like keepers IS. The strands forming the horizontal slats 9 of the other opposed pair of side walls 3 are also formed of strands bent zigzag with their bights projecting beyond the end vertical slats M of these walls 3 and conformed to provide outwardly facing hooks l5 engageable with the loop like keepers [3. The slightly inclined relationship of the slats 9 results from the reduced bights of the strands providing hooks [5 of such dimen sions that they may be passed through the loo-plike keepers I 3.

The vertical slots [0 are formed of zigzag bent strands the top bights providing keepers [1, the lower bights being bent inwardlyand upwardly to provide hooks l8 adapted toreceive the bottom border frame H) which is positioned within the side walls after they are connected and adjusted to a squared up erected position. The hooks and keepers of the adjacent side walls may be engaged and disengaged by a relative tilting and swinging movement of the walls as is indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. One pair of opposed side walls is provided with horizontal reinforcing members 20 arranged adjacent their bottom horizontal slats 9.

The bottom is retained upon the supports H! by means of the tongues or latches 2! and 22 the latches 2! being desirably fixed so that the bottom can be placed on the hooks of the adjacent side wall with the tongues or latches 21 below the reinforcing members 20. The bottom is then swung down so that it rests on the supports l8 of all the walls and the tongues or latches 22 project below the reinforcing slats 20 of the opposite wall. This looks the bottom in position and the bottom acts to prevent diagonal collap-sing of the walls.

In the embodiment illustrated the top sections or members 4 are formed of longitudinal slats 2'3 and transverse slats 24. The longitudinal slats are formed of strands bent zigzag and the bights terminate in loops 25 engageable over the keepers H at the upper edges of the side walls. The transverse slats 24 are formed of strips of wire bent to provide a pair of slats the bights of the wires terminating in upturned loop-like hooks 25 engageable within the keepers ll at the upper edges of one pair of opposed side walls. These hooks 25 are upturned and swingably engage in the loops with which they coact.

The cover member slats terminate in eyes 26 adapted to be brought into alignmenttoreceive the locking rod 21 which is also passed throughaligned keepers 28 of the adjacent side walls. The looking rod is provided with a handle 29 at one end and has a hole 30 adapted to receive a lock or seal designated by the numeral 3i. With the parts thus arranged they may be rapidly assembled, can be quickly knocked down and compactly stacked for storage or re-shipment.

When erected the structure is rigid and well adapted to withstand stresses to which it would be subjected to shipping or under heavy load.

In the embodiment illustrated shoes or runners 32 are provided, these being formed of rods having upturned ends 33 secured upon the outer sides of the horizontal slats of opposed walls. These runners or shoes support the crate so that it may he slid about or dragged across a platform or deck or floor without injury to the walls or bottom.

The structure is relatively economically produced, is capable of carrying heavy loads and the loads are well protected, that is, the walls and bottom and the top are such that they are not likely to be broken or caved in or bent.

We have illustrated and described our invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. While the structure is .well adapted for embodiment of shipping crates of substantial size the size may be varied as may be required.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a collapsible crate, a bottom comprising a border frame and. crossed sets of wire slats fixedly secured to the border frame and to each other at their crossing points, opposed pairs of side walls comprising crossed horizontal and vertical slots fixedly connected at their crossing points, the horizontal and vertical slats bein formed of wire strands bent zigzag, the bights of the strands constituting the horizontal slats of one pair of side walls being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and constituting loop-like keepers, the bights of the horizontal strands of the other pair of side walls being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and conformed to provide outwardly facing hooks engageable with the said keepers by relative tilting and swinging movements of the adjacent walls, the bights of the strands constituting the vertical slats of the side walls being extended beyond the top and bottom horizontal slats, the top bights constituting keepers, the bottom bights being turned inwardly and upwardly providing bottom supporting hooks engageable with the border frame thereof, the bottom having tongues at one edge engageable beneath the bottom horizontal slat of one side wall and slidable tongues at the opposite edge engageable beneath the bottom slat of the opposite side wall to hold the bottom in position in the said supporting hooks therefor, the bottom acting to prevent diagonal collapsing of the side walls and thereby preventing disengagement of the said connecting hooks and keepers of the side walls, and a pair of complementary top members formed of crossed wire slats fixedly secured together at their crossing points, the transverse slats having upturned hooks at their outer ends swingably engageable with the loop-like keepers at the upper ends of one pair of opposed side walls, the inner ends of the transverse slats terminating in eyes adapted for alignment to receive a locking pin, the longitudinal slats of the top members being formed of wire strands bent zigzag, the bights thereof being engageable over the upwardly projecting keepers at the upper edges of the other pair of opposed side walls.

2. In a collapsible crate, a bottom comprising a border frame and crossed sets of wire slats fixedly secured to the border frame and to each other at their crossing points, opposed pairs of side walls comprising crossed horizontal and vertical slats fixedly connected at their crossing points, the horizontal and Vertical slats being formed of wire strands bent zigzag, the bights of the strands constituting the horizontal slats of one pair 01 side walls being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and constituting loop-like keepers, the bights of the horizontal strands of the other pair of side walls being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and conformed to provide outwardly facing hooks engageable with the said keepers by relative tilting and swinging movements of the adjacent walls, the bights of the strands constituting the vertical slats of the side walls being extended beyond bottom horizontal slats, and being turned inwardly and upwardly providing bottom supporting hooks engageable with the border frame thereof, the bottom having tongues at one edge engageable beneath the bottom horizontal slat of one side wall and slidable tongues at the opposite edge engageable beneath the bottom slat of the opposite side wall to hold the bottom in position in the said supporting hooks therefor, the bottom acting to prevent diagonal collapsing of the side walls and thereby preventing disengagement of the said connecting hooks and keepers of the side walls.

3. In a collapsible crate, a bottom comprising a border frame and crossed sets of wire slats fixedly secured to the border frame and to each other at their crossed points, opposed pairs of side walls comprising crossed horizontal and vertical slats fixedly connected at their crossing points, the horizontal and vertical slats being formed of wire strands bent zigzag, the bights of the strands constituting the horizontal slats of one pair of side walls being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and constituting loop-like keepers. the bights of the horizontal strands of the other pair of side walls being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and conformed to provide outwardly facing hooks engageable with the. said keepers by relative tilting and swinging move.- ments of the adjacent walls, the bights of the strands constituting the vertical slats of the side walls being extended beyond the top and bottom horizontal slats, the top bights' constituting keepers, the bottom bights being turned inwardly and upwardly providing bottom supporting hooks engageable with the border frame thereof, and a pair of complementary top members formed of crossed wire slats fixedly secured together at their crossing points, the transverse slats having upturned hooks at their outer ends swingably engageable with the loop-like keepers at the upper ends of one pair of opposed side walls, the inner ends of the transverse slats terminating in eyes adapted for alignment to receive. a locking pin, the longitudinal slats of the top members being formed of wire strands bent zigzag, the bights thereof being engageable over the upwardly projecting keepers at the upper edges of the other pair of opposed side walls.

4. In a collapsible crate, a bottom comprising a border frame and crossed sets of wire slats fixedly secured to the border frame and to each other at their crossing points, opposed pairs of side walls comprising crossed horizontal and vertical slats fixedly connected at their crossing points, the horizontal. and vertical slats being formed of wire strands bent zigzag, the bights of the strands constituting the horizontal slats of onev pair of, side walls. being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and constituting looplike. keepers, the bights. of the horizontal strands of the other pair of side walls being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and conformed to provide outwardly facing hooks engageable with the said keepers by relative tilting and swinging movements of the adjacent walls,

the bights of the strands constituting the vertical slats of the side walls being extended beyond bottom horizontal slats and being turned inwardly and upwardly providing bottom supporting hooks engageable with the border [frame thereof.

5; In a collapsible crate, a bottom comprising a border frame and crossed sets of wire slats fixedly secured thereto, opposed pairs of side Walls comprising crossed fixedly connected horizontal and vertical slats, the horizontal and vertical slats being formed of wire strands bentzigzag, the bights of the strands constituting the horizontal slats of one pair of side walls being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and constituting loop-like keepers, the bights of the. horizontal strands of the other pair of side walls be.- ing extended beyond the outer vertical. slats thereof and conformed to provide outwardly facing hooksengageable with the said keepers, the bights of the. strands constituting the,- vertical slats: of the side walls being extended beyond the top. and bottom horizontal slats, the. top bights constituting keepers, the bottom bights; being turned inwardly providing bottom supportsengageable with the border frame thereof, and a top member formed of crossed wire slats fixedly secured together certain of the transverse slats having hooks. at their outer ends swingably' engageable with the loop-like keepers at the upper ends of one side wall, the, longitudinal slats of the top members being formed of wire. strands. bent zigzag, the big-hts thereof being engageable over the upwardly projecting keepers of the. adjacent side walls.

6. In a, collapsible crate, a bottom comprising. a border frame and crossed sets of wire slats fixedly secured thereto, opposed pairs. of side walls comprising crossed fixedly connected horizontal and vertical slats, the horizontal and vertical slats being formed of wire strands bent zigzag, the bights of the strands constituting the horizontal slats of one pair of side walls being extendedbeiyond the outer vertical slats thereof and consti tuting loop-like keepers, the bights of the horizontal strands of the other pair of side walls being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and conformed to provide outwardly facing hooks engageable with the said keepers, the bights of the strands constituting the vertical slats of the side walls being extended beyond the bottom horizontal slats, and being turned inwardly providing bottom supports engageable with the border frame thereof.

7. In a collapsible crate, a bottom comprising a border frame and. crossed sets of wire slats fixedly secured thereto, opposed pairs of side walls comprising crossed fixedly connected horizontal and vertical slats, the horizontal and vertical slats being formed of wire strands bent zigzag, the bights of the strands constituting the horizontal slats of one pair of side Walls being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and constituting loop-like keepers, the bights of the horizontal strands of the other pair of sidewalls being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and conformed to provide outwardly facing hooks engageable with the said keepers, the bights of the strands constituting the vertical slats of the side walls being extended beyond the bottom horizontal slats, and being turned inwardly providing bottom supports engageable with the border frame thereof, the bottom having members engageabl'e beneath certain horizontal slats of the side walls to hold the bottom in position on the said supporting members therefor.

8. In a collapsible crate, a bottom, opposed pairs of side walls comprising crossed fixedly connected horizontal and vertical slats, the horizontal and vertical slats being formed of wire strands bent zigzag, the bights of the strands constituting the horizontal slats of one pair of side walls being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and constituting loop-like keepers, the bights of the horizontal strands of the other pair of side walls being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and conformed to provide outwardly facing hooks engageable with the said keepers, the bights of the strands constituting the vertical. slats of the side walls being extendedbeyond the top and bottom hori zontal slats, the top bights, constituting keepers, the bottom bights; beingv turned inwardly providign supports: for the bottom thereof, and a top member formed of crossed wire'slats fixedly secured together the transverse slats in integral pairs formed byfolding strands of wire and disposed with their bights at the outer side edge. of the top member and conformed to provide hooks swingab-ly engageable with the loop-like keepers at the upper ends of one side wall, the longitudinal slats of the top member being formed of wire strands bent zigzag, the bights thereof being engageable over the upwardly projecting keepers of the adjacent side walls.

9-. In a collapsible crate, a bottom, opposed pairs of side walls comprising crossed fixedly connected horizontal and vertical slats, the horizontal and vertical slats being, formed of wire strands bent zigzag, the bights of the strands COI1Sfiitl1tingthe horizontal slats of one pair of side walls being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and constituting loop-like keepers, the bights of the horizontal strands of the other pair of side walls being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and conformed to provide outwardly facing hooks engageable with the said keepers, the bights of the strands constituting the vertical slats of the side walls being extended beyond the top and bottom horizontal slats, the top bights constituting keepers, the bottom bights being turned inwardly providing supportsfor the bottom,

10. In a collapsible crate, a bottom, opposed pairs of side walls, one opposed pair of side walls having loop-like keepers on their vertical edges, the other opposed pair of side walls having outwardly facing hooks engageable with the said keepers by relative tilting and swinging movement of the adjacent walls, the side walls having loop-like keepers at their upper edges and inwardly projecting upwardly facing bottom supports at their bottom edges, the bottom having members engageable with certain of the side walls for preventing upward movement of the bottom relative thereto when it is disposed on said supports, the bottom acting to prevent diagonal collapsing of the side walls thereby preventing disengagement of the connecting hooks and keepers of the side walls and maintaining the side walls in their erected position, and a pair of complementary top members having upturned hooks at their outer side edges swingably engageable with the loop-like keepers at the upper edges of one pair of opposed side walls and having eyes at their inner swinging edges adapted for alignment to receive a locking pin, the top members having loops engageable over the keepare at the upper edges of the other pair of opposed side members, and a locking pin engageable with the eyes of said top members when they are in closed position.

11. In a collapsible crate, a bottom, opposed pairs of side walls, one opposed pair of side walls having loop-like keepers on their vertical edges, the other opposed pair of side walls having outwardly facing hooks engageable with the said keepers by relative tilting and swinging movement of the adjacent walls, the side walls having loop-like keepers at their upper edges and inwardly projecting upwardly facing bottom supports at their bottom edges, the bottom acting to prevent diagonal collapsing of the side walls thereby preventing disengagement of the connecting hooks and keepers of the side walls and maintaining the side walls in their erected position, and a pair of complementary top members having upturned hooks at their outer side edges swingably engageable with the loop-like keepers at the upper edges of one pair of opposed side walls and having eyes at their inner swinging edges adapted for alignment to receive a locking pin, the top members having loops engageable over the keepers at the upper edges of the other pair of opposed side members, and a locking pin engageable with the eyes of said top members when they are in closed position.

12. In a collapsible crate, a bottom, opposed pairs of side walls, one opposed pair of side walls having loop-like keepers on their vertical edges, the other opposed pair of side walls having outwardly facing hooks engageable with the said keepers by relative tilting and swinging movement of the adjacent walls, the side walls having looplike keepers at their upper edges and inwardly projecting upwardly facing bottom supports at their bottom edges, the bottom having members engageable with certain of the side walls for preventing upward movement of the bottom relative thereto when it is disposed on said supports, the bottom acting to prevent diagonal collapsing of the side walls thereby preventing disengagement of the connecting hooks and keepers of the side walls and maintaining the side walls in their erected position.

13. In a collapsible crate, a bottom, opposed pairs of side walls, one opposed pair of side walls having loop-like keepers on their vertical edges, the other opposed pair of side walls having outw-ardly facing hooks engageable with the said keepers by relative tilting and swinging movement of the adjacent walls, the side walls having loop-like keepers at their upper edges and inwardly projecting upwardly facing bottom supports at their bottom edges, the bottom acting to prevent diagonal collapsing of the side walls thereby preventing disengagement of the connecting hooks and keepers of the side walls and maintaining the side walls in their erected position.

14. In a collapsible crate, a bottom, opposed pairs of side walls one opposed pair of side walls having loop-like keepers on their vertical edges, the other opposed pair of side walls having outwardly facing hooks engageable with the said keepers by relative tilting and swinging movement of the adjacent walls, the side walls having loop-like keepers at their upper edges, and a pair of complementary top members having upturned hooks at their outer side edges swingably engage- ,able with the loop-like keepers at their upper edges of one pair of opposed side walls and having eyes at their inner swinging edges adapted for alignment to receive a locking pin, the top members having loops engageable over the keepers at the upper edges of the other pair of opposed side members, and a locking pin engageable with the eyes of said top members when they are in closed position.

15. In a collapsible crate, a bottom, opposed pairs of side walls comprising crossed fixedly connected horizontal and vertical slats, the horizontal and vertical slats being formed of wire strands bent zigzag, the bights of the strands constituting the horizontal slats of one pair of side walls being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and constituting loop-like keepers, the bights of the horizontal strands of the other pair of side walls being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and conformed to provide outwardly facing hooks engageable with the said keepers, the bights of the strands constituting the vertical slats of the side walls being extended beyond the top horizontal slats and constituting keepers, and a top member formed of crossed wire slats, certain of the transverse slats having hooks at their outer ends swingably engageable with the loop-like keepers at the upper edge of one side wall, the longitudinal slats of the top members being formed of wire strands bent zigzag, the bights thereof being engageable over the upwardly projecting keepers of the adjacent side walls.

16. In a collapsible crate, a bottom, opposed pairs of side walls comprising crossed fixedly connected horizontal and vertical slats, the horizontal and vertical slats being formed of wire strands bent zigzag, the bights of the strands constituting the horizontal slats of one pair of side walls being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and constituting loop-like keepers, the bights of the horizontal strands of the other pair of side walls being extended beyond the outer vertical slats thereof and conformed to provide outwardly facing hooks engageable with the said keepers, the bights of the strands constituting the vertical slats of the side walls being extended beyond the top horizontal slats and constituting keepers, and a top member formed of crossed wire slats, certain of the transverse slats having hooks at their outer ends swingably engageable with the loop-like keepers at the upper edge of one side wall, and loops at the end edges of the top member engageable over the upwardly projecting keepers of the adjacent side walls.

LAWRENCE F. EMIGHOLZ. CHARLES C. AVERILL.

No references cited. 

